Pompeo spends 5 1/2 hours with N.K. leader: Cheong Wa Dae

SEOUL, Oct. 8 (Yonhap) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spent a total of five and a half hours with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un when he visited Pyongyang on Sunday, South Korea's presidential spokesman said Monday.

The spokesman, Kim Eui-kyeom, made the remark to reporters, citing unidentified people who traveled with Pompeo. Kim said the time spent with Pompeo suggests that the North's leader showed sincerity regarding the meeting.

"In light of foreign news reports, it appears (the two) met for two hours in the morning and had lunch together for about an hour and a half and held a meeting for about two hours in the afternoon," Kim said. "I think Chairman Kim used sufficient time and exercised sincerity while putting weight on the meeting with Secretary Pompeo."

The spokesman said that the North's leader was accompanied only by his sister Kim Yo-jong and an interpreter during the morning and afternoon meetings.

Kim also confirmed that Pompeo briefed President Moon Jae-in on Kim's invitation of an inspection team to the North's Punggye-ri nuclear test site when he paid a visit to Cheong Wa Dae later Sunday.